Sure: Harry Reid Ranks Kirsten Gillibrand “Hottest Member” of Senate

America’s Senate majority leader, Nevada’s own Harry Reid, has been on quite a saying-things rampage these days! Just last week, he said something that was, until today, one of the most inappropriate things he’s ever uttered. Reid invoked the term of endearment “my pet”—twice—in referring to Delaware senatorial hopeful Chris Coons. “I'm going to be very honest with you—Chris Coons, everybody knows him in the Democratic caucus. He’s my pet. He’s my favorite candidate,” Reid said at a September 11 memorial, adding, “I told him that and I tried to get him to run. I’m glad he’s running. I just think the world of him. He’s my pet.” An infantilized, emasculated Coons later admitted, “I've met Senator Reid at least twice.” As for Reid’s most recent saying-things incident, it too involves rather squeamish praise. At a fund-raiser in New York City last night at Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Upper East Side town house, Reid told several guests that “many senators are known for many things” and that “we in the Senate refer to Senator Gillibrand as the hottest member.” Politico reasons, “Gillibrand has been profiled repeatedly for her post-second baby weight loss, and how she achieved it. She also made The Hill's Most Beautiful list. Nonetheless, it’s not considered wise politics to say such a thing.” A Reid spokesman acknowledged the comment with a statement that began “What can I say ” Perhaps nothing. Perhaps neither Harry Reid nor his aides should say anything at all. Saying things is at the root of this spate of saying-things incidents.